New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-01
MASKS AND FACES.


MASKS AND FACES.
The bright CHEEKY aud valorous spirit OF Miss Helen
Dauy ray the philosophy with which she has accepted
momcuty defeat and the honest Zeal and pqant talent
with which she has sometimes turned failure into suo-
cess have naturally commended her to the sympathy
and good will OF considerable section OF the paygong
public. Therefore a numerous audience assembled in
the ycem Theatre last night to witness and TO welcome
her eort la character OF reg Wogon, which part
she presented for the first time Miss Dauyray had rea'
son To be pleased with the public greeting that hailed
her when first she appeared, tho kind attention ana
that cheere her all along the line OF her perform
ancc and the friendly acceptance that was accorded to
her work Probably there Is thinking person. really
Acquainted with this subject who expected that Miss
Dauvray would give entirely adequate embodi-
lnent OF this character. An actress who play
! Peg Fofington thoroughly well can play any
! thing this side OF positive tragedy
IL Il most aruous part deep Ia feeling clear lofty.
and fine in mind brilliant In humor; lovely in monnrr
! sprightly In demeanor; apt in repartee dazzling In
beauty rich In the capacity OF womans love splendid In
passion; stately repose; true In pathos and, at all
points. remarkable for the faculty OF control alike
Itself and OF It's circumstances. An approximation to
this character embelshed with few touches OF hsto-
cal realism wa. all that could nationally have been eN
peotod In Miss Dauyrays performance This expectation
her performance fulfilled
As rule II Is well 80 back OF play In quest OF
hight upon il from historic Hamlet" Is 10 be
Understood by what il set down on SnakspcareS page"
and not from Information eKtant In ancient chronicles
that Shakespeare may have consulted In the OF Peg
WO0ngtor. though IL was the expressed design OF the
authors reproduce. II possible. the who. about
the middle Of the last century bewtched all the men Of
her time enslaved for while the Of David Garrc.
acted with wonderful genius, through such range OF
character Is marked by Lady Betty hodSh. SIR Harry
glorious actress ana tho most delicious woman OF her
tine. The representative of Peg Wongton, accordingly.
IL Justified In making up after her portraits and IN copy
Ing far practicable, her and xtaces IA these
are Gned IN The oil stage 9GSaphes rg WGngor
aimed to depict her as she might have looked
the embodiment Is but family suggestive OF even por
trait ~ the original AS theatrical performance Il Is
ambitious daring firm. and In It's stimulation OF te old
school manners, utelgent aud picturesque IL was not
artistic for Peg Wongon 10 produce out Of her bosom
Dauvrays treatment OF the part Il consistently that OF
conventional mind. and OF It's exquisite wonanhood and
surprise pride and anger were sufficiently well ex-
pressed no doubt In the scene OF the interrupted ban
quet but the wounded heart had portion in the mood
Of that moment Miss Dauvray executed an elaborate
ard sf at % Po a D Ssr hS here
cured her the compliment OF rpeoial recall L. was
E triumph neglected wife the quarrel and tho
scorn came later tie Carrot scene Miss Damvray is
dancer she %as mas e hs IS
with attention TO detail but not with especial cor
resemble the celebrated Grcenroom In when Pe0
WoaGton figured but OF course points OF this kind do
not signify II only the acting of play be really adequate
and line. The cast OF parts has at least the merit OF
being practical, s les skpSys and ess S"sy S"s
fine touches in Mr. Howson's performance of Ipe but
neither this nor any other enSodiment OF inc night rose
Masks and Faces" Is the presentation OF beautiful
THE RETURN OF ROSE COGHLAN.
The most important and tho most agreeable OF the
fresh incidents which occurred last night to diversity the
record OF this theatrical week. the return OF Miss
Rose Coghlan This fsvorite actress forward at the
Iuin Sonar fra md INN uafa Tfll GlIl
Spdnker, In representation OF Dion Bouccaults old
comedy Of " London Assurance" Miss Coghan well
coined with cordial good WILL heartily and vigorously
expressed. by largo company OF pleased and synpa
thetc auditors. The embodiment OF LGty Gay Spdnser
that given by Miss Coghan Is not to be described
for the first time II has long been known and admired
here the incarnation OF exuberant physical vitality
dasbing mcrrment. and mischievous c0quetry. Tho |
actress has not sought TO indicate renements and subtle
tics in character which is totally devoid Of them but
has simply and sensiDy aimed 10 present an Image OF |
dne heslthfu. buoyaDt. sprightly womanhood-abso. |
ut ely correct. but fastous More than almost any
other Of times who be called mind,
Miss Coghan possesses the Quaty-Uor 1t IA quality
rather than facuty)-of realizing ideal OF dangerous
womanlike charm.
Such personalities as hers especially prominent,
and especially priced, the English stage sbout tho
period OF the Restoration, and. later In tho GarIiok
perods one may see when reading such old books as
CbDers Apology" wherein there is many descriptive
phrase which might, aptly enough be applied 10 this
actress This individ wtehery Is the charm OF her
performance OF Lady Gay Spaer this OF course. being
projected and made apprcciable by ample and graceful
proficiency In theatrical art Miss Cognans acting Il
Intellectual but spontaneous and far she
goes by she fox chase speech with
and exuberant because spontaneous and natural feryOr
cess this point usually satisfies every audience to
the adequate talent and merit OF any performer of LAZY
Guy spdnker Yet Is In her subsequent bedevment OF
the lccntious old Baronet. Sr Hdrcowt Coraey.-the
demure skill with which she lures him on aud the tant-
zing pquancy with which she throws hun of-that the
actress FAR better exhibit her dramatic purpose.
power. and personal and technical resources Miss
Coghan kept her audience Interested and amused from
first to ns called out an almost continuous ripple OF
laughter. and ut several points was loudly appiauded
Comment on the general representation seems scarcely
imperative. Tho boys have invented several foic0us
phrases with which TO express tho senseot fatigue caused
by anything that stays too long. IL makes tired"
they oNclaim or tho bell has rIng for it -, the
Mayor has called In" These phrases phrases
but sometimes they and certainly,
they are suggested by Mr. Boucicauts comedy OF Lon
don Assurance The piece has logged along nearly
half century intermittent upon the stage always
owing Its success mainly to fortunate harmony betwixt
actors and characters. But IL always faso and an
unwholes0ne piece false picture manners; false
a commentary ON human nature false q reflection
OF probability or even Of possibility, In tho events Of
actual lie such as are implicated In the conduct Of
plot scarcely any person presented In II Is drawn as
really truthful sweet entitled TO confidence, or worthy
OF love- And YET almost part In II In good acting
his dlsctepancy-ths artihcialty,-S